Police forces are perpetuating incorrect stereotypes about people with HIV through guidelines that suggest officers can be infected with the virus through spit and sharing toothbrushes, say campaigners.
Myths about the transmission of HIV are recycled in too many police documents, says the National Aids Trust (NAT), which examined policies and guidelines from a sample of 15 police constabularies representative of the 50 in the UK.
Some of the guidance was completely wrong, such as the claims that HIV can be transmitted between people who share toothbrushes and razors and that the virus can be present in saliva and urine. One piece of guidance even suggested that police officers should be provided with "spit hoods" to protect themselves against people with HIV. It was also suggested that infection could occur during dental surgery, kissing, scratching, and the "handling or lifting of persons".
"Care must be taken to avoid anyone (including friends and family) using your toothbrush or razor, as this is a possible source of contamination," reads one force's occupational health policy. Another document erroneously says: "HIV can be spread by the exchange of bodily fluids such as ... shared razors and toothbrushes."
Advice on the treatment of HIV-positive prisoners is stigmatising and counterproductive, NAT said. Disposable cups and cutlery are advocated.
One policy read: "Keep the [HIV positive] prisoner separate from others and do not allow the sharing of facilities with other persons", while another says: "Interviews by custody visitors must be conducted through cell door inspection hatch."
HIV is a blood-borne virus and transmission in the UK is almost always through sexual activity. Inaccurate information in police guidelines could lead to officers taking an HIV test when they have not been at risk – causing distress and wasting money – and it contributes to wrong and stigmatising beliefs about people with HIV in society.
"Stigma continues to fuel unnecessary fear around HIV, and we know this is particularly prevalent in the police force as HIV is commonly cited as the blood-borne virus that police are most afraid of contracting on the job," said Deborah Jack, chief executive of NAT.
"In fact, HIV poses the least risk as it is sexually transmitted in upwards of 95% of cases in the UK – yet much police guidance focuses on negligible, theoretical or down-right impossible transmission routes. This sort of inaccurate information not only causes needless stress to police officers, but it spurs scaremongering media reports and mistreatment of people living with HIV."
The errors were found in materials both from areas with high rates of HIV and those with few cases. NAT is calling on police constabularies to revisit their guidelines and make sure they are accurate. They also want training for police about HIV and how it is transmitted.
None of the guidelines were entirely up to date and accurate, although there were some examples of good information. But they did not reflect changes in knowledge about the virus and treatment. Studies have shown that people with HIV on modern antiretroviral drugs do not infect their sexual partner. Data from the Health Protection Agency from 2010 showed that 85% of patients who had been on the drugs for a year had undetectable levels of virus in their blood, making it highly unlikely that they would transmit it to anyone else.
Guidance on blood-borne viruses was produced and circulated to all forces in England and Wales in October 2011 by the National Policing Improvement Agency.
"This document aims to promote safe practices and procedures, generate awareness amongst police staff about BBVs (blood-borne viruses), and encourage training to help ensure police staff have appropriate knowledge to deal safely, confidently and appropriately with BBV incidents," said a spokesman.
However, it is up to each individual force to produce and revise its own policies. The NAT declined to name the forces with inaccurate guidelines because it was given access to them on a confidential basis.